I have been seeing a chiropractor the last couple months and it seemed to be helping a little with stiffness.
However, when walking into his office today I went to stretch my neck and must have pulled a muscle or put a kink in it cause now I cant bend my neck to the left.
Well, I go in there and he talks me into getting two adjustments done on my neck and said they would help with the pain. I was in such agony I agree'd... I had never let him adjust my neck before.
Now Im scared out of my mind im going to have a stroke... I cant take this anymore! Seriously, is there no help out there or any factual numbers? Dr's say chiropractors cause strokes Chiropractors say its safe Im scared to death now... Ive read it can happen in a couple days... I was feeling so good to.
Needless to say im never going back to the chiropractor. Im suppose to have my first day back at work tomorrow now im just frightened out of my mind.
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
I've seen many, many chiropractors and had my neck adjusted tons of times. I've never had a stroke.
The medical system has been waging war against chiropractors for years. Many years ago, chiropractors won a huge defamation lawsuit against the American Medical Association.
You probably overstretched your muscle and put it into spasm. I've also done that tons of times.
Lightly massage your tight muscles. No more stretching.
I prefer heat, like a warm washcloth, for muscle spasms. Later, when spasming goes away, I use ice if I still feel inflamed.
Some say ice right away.
Either way, the spasms will calm down with time. But no more stretching!
Good luck! BoxerMom
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
Your neck and back area may be sore for a day or two after the adjustment because your muscles were used to accommodating for the improper alignment. Try to relax, take some ibuprofen, and apply heat to the sore area. It will feel better.
Chiropractors are well trained. They don't just jerk your neck around until it makes popping noises. They have techniques to realign the bones to help your whole body function and feel better.
By the way, Chiropractors are not the only doctors that can adjust the spine. DO's (Doctor of Osteopathy) are also trained to do this. They are like MD's with extra training.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
You have a better chance of getting hit by lighting indoors then you do of having a stroke from a neck manipulation.
Posted by LymeAware (Member # 26195) on :
I agree with the other posters. I have had many many chiropractic adjustments, and never had a stroke, nor have any of my friends and family who see chiropractors. Honestly, I had never heard of this before.
Please try to relax and just allow the adjustment to help you. As sammy mentioned, it's possible you may be alittle sore, but this doesn't mean anything negative. Allow your muscles to relax into their new alignment.
Take care.
Posted by hagamama (Member # 26668) on :
I have been seeing a chiropractor since I was 14 - almost 20 years now. I would swear by them.
I have had episodes like you are describing and it is probably just as Boxermom stated about the spasms.
I prefer icing down the muscle after an adjustment with a bag of frozen corn. It wraps around your neck comfortably.
Also, drink lots and lots of water. When you get an adjustment liek that it frees up alot of the lactic acid that had built up in your muscles. Best to get all those toxins out asap.
Hope you feel better and please don't let this one experience stop you from a very good alternate avenue of healthcare.
Posted by Ahodge01 (Member # 23569) on :
Thanks... everyone! Much calmer now. When I got home I just got online and started reading all the bad stuff.
Since becoming ill I have horrible anxiety... just in case you didnt notice haha.
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
I get my neck adjusted every few weeks. Of course the medical community doesn't want us to go to them because they make us feel better and not needing their meds.
Hope you feel better soon.
Posted by IckyTicky (Member # 21466) on :
It is so extremely rare that a neck adjustment can cause a stroke. And mainly, that info was put out there just to dog on chiropractors in general. The mainstream medical community don't like chiropractors, much the same as they don't like Lyme doctors.
I see an upper cervical specialist and get my atlas adjusted regularly (started out going 3 to 4 times a week!)In the past two years I have never had a bad reaction to it and neither has the rest of my family.
I think stroke from chiropractic is the least of your worries Posted by IckyTicky (Member # 21466) on :
And by the way, when I was first dx with Lyme I went "google crazy" and that alone nearly killed me with anxiety. Stop googling so much *grin*
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I've had my neck adjusted alot and never experienced any stroke problem.
There are various levels of chiropractic forcefulness, varying from minimal to strong. I think it's important to find the level that works best for us.
Plus there are modality options, like heat, massage, stretching.
Posted by troutscout (Member # 3121) on :
Only have the neck adjusted with the Dr Sweat method....
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
I had a chiro use a tool called an 'Activator' on my neck in 2002. Never again. I truly believe he ruined my neck muscles due to a method and hit me where he should never have. Don't go into the chiro thing blind. They CAN cause harm too, though most are fine. I regret that day every day of my life. Posted by elley0531 (Member # 9434) on :
I see a chiro every month and have been for four years. No stroke yet! Seriously, you have much higher chances of dying from taking a dose of tylenol. It is really very safe, but of course it is good to go to a reputable chiro.
The adjustments can make you sore, but icing the areas will calm that down like others have said.
Posted by LightAtTheEnd (Member # 24065) on :
I never even heard that rumor, that a chiropractor could give you a stroke.
I'm sure that on a rare occasion, one could make some kind of mistake and cause someone a spine or neck injury, or more likely, make they one they have worse by accident.
But there are medical malpractice cases against all types of medical professional for all kinds of mistakes, and yet we keep going back to them. Chiropractors are probably no different, except they might be safer because they use less risky methods than drugs and surgery.
We're probably in a lot more danger driving a car down the road.
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